Douche

ABSTRACT

A vaginal douche in which a tubular, liquid discharge tip engages a liquid-impervious, flexible bag. A conduit extends laterally from the tip and defines an opening for conducting liquid into the bag. The bag is of sufficiently flexible material to have no substantial tendency to distend when empty and forms a single-use, unitary structure with the tip.

United States Patent [721 Inventors Lenore M. Stein Inglewood; Fred R.Brown, Torrance. both of, Calif. [21] Appl. No, 742,286 [22] Filed July3, 1968 145] Patented June 1, 1971 [73] Assignee Assignor to said Steinand said Brown part interest to each i 541 DOUCHE 15 Claims, 3 DrawingFigs.

[52] US. Cl [28/232, 128/239,128/251 [51] lnt.Cl A6lm H00 [50] Field ofSearch 128/231, 232, 239, 251, 222,227, 239, 347; 23/230, 254; 206/632;73/29 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,818,863 1/1958Hoffman et a1. 128/251 3,057,352 10/1962 McKenna 128/239X PrimaryExaminer-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner,l. Yasko Attorney-Nilsson,Robbins, Wills & Berliner ABSTRACT: A vaginal douche in which a tubular,liquid discharge tip engages a liquid-impervious, flexible bag. Aconduit extends laterally from the tip and defines an opening forconducting liquid into the bag. The bag is of sufficiently flexiblematerial to have no substantial tendency to distend when empty and formsa single-use, unitary structure with the tip.

noucns BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The fieldsof art to which the invention pertains includes the fields of vaginaldouches and syringes.

2. Description of the Prior Art There is a recognized need for asingle-use, disposable vaginal douche or syringe because of thedifficulty in keeping reuseable syringes sterile and sanitary andbecause of the convenience afforded by an inexpensive, compact,throwaway douche. However, prior disposable douches have generallysacrificed convenience and physical safety for compactness anddisposability. Where safe-to-use tips have been employed, elaborate bagfilling means were utilized. Where convenient bag loading was provided,simplistic nonsafe tip designs were utilized. Other over simplificationswere made for the sake of cost savings and compactness which have madesuch douches inconvenient and often unsafe to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an inexpensive,compact, sterile vaginal douche which can be easily filled andconveniently and safely used. The douche comprises a tubular liquiddischarge tip having wall perforations at one end portion, the oppositeend thereof engaging a liquid-impervious flexible bag and forming awatertight connection therewith. Conduit means are provided extendinglaterally from the tip and defining an opening into the tip forconducting liquid into the bag. The bag is of sufficiently flexiblematerial as to have no substantial tendency to distend when empty andforms a unitary structure with the tip.

In particular embodiments, the conduit opening forms an acute angle withthe tip, the vertex of such angle pointing towards the bag, and theconduit is built up around its base to form a flange on the tip to limitvaginal penetration thereof. The tip is curved and the conduit flange isdisposed approximately normal to the plane of tip curvature. Means areprovided for capping the conduit opening.

In further embodiments, the bag is of sufficiently flexible material asto have no substantial tendency to distend when empty and forms aunitary structure with the tip. The bag has an extended neck inengagement with the tip as the sole communication with the interior ofthe bag, at least a portion of the material of the neck being flexiblebut substantially thicker than the remainder of the bag to therebyfacilitate handling of the douche.

As another important feature, the liquid discharge portion at the end ofthe tip comprises a plurality of wall perforations at such end. Theperforations are of different sizes with perforations nearer theextremity of the tip being larger than perforations further back.

Still other features include disposing a single dosage of water-solubledouche substance within the bag, providing the exterior surface of thebag with a pebbled texture, and including means associated with the bagindicating any decrease in sterility thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view of thedouche of the present invention, with sections broken away;

FIG. 2 is a top, plan view of the douche of FIG. 1, including a cap forthe conduit thereon; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the conduit portion of thedouche tip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, thedouche comprises a bag and a tip 12. The bag 10 is shown in collapsedform. It is of liquid-impervious material that is generally sufficientlyflexible as to have no substantial tendency to distend when empty.Suitable bag material is polyethylene of a few thousandths inchthickness. The surface of the bag 10 has a pebbled texture, indicated at14 to provide a nonslip surface so that when the bag is filled it can bereadily manipulated with one hand. The bag 10 distends when filled withwater and holds about one and one quarter pint.

The bag 10 has an elongated neck 16, a portion of which, near the base18, is of thicker material than the remainder of the bag 10 but is stillflexible so as to allow the bag to bend thereat without crimping. Thisfacilitates control of the flow of liquid for safer introduction anduse. The neck 16 is sufficiently long to enable ready manipulationduring insertion and use in a sitting position. The neck portion I6constitutes the sole communication with the interior of the bag 10.

The tip 12 comprises a curved elongated member having a longitudinaldischarge passage 24 that terminates at a bulbous end 26. Outletapertures 28, 30 and 32 are located in longitudinally recessed portions34 in the bulbous end 26. The apertures 28, 30 and 32 are of differentsizes and arranged so that perforations nearer the extremity of thebulbous end 26 are larger than perforations further back, i.e., theperforations designated 32 are larger than the perforations designated30 which are larger than the perforations designated 28.

Referring specifically to FIG. 1, the tip 12, at its end 27 (shown inshadow) opposite the bulbous end 26 is provided with convolutions 29over which the neck of the bag 16 tightly fits to provide a watertightconnection thereat and result in a unitary structure. 7

A conduit 36 extends laterally from the tip 12 adjacent the bag engagingend 27. The conduit 36 defines an opening 38 into the longitudinaldischarge passage 24 of the tip 12. The conduit opening 38 forms anacute angle with the longitudinal discharge passage 24, the vertex ofsuch angle pointing toward the bag I0. The bag 10 may be filled bypouring water into the conduit opening 38. Since the opening 38 is at anacute angle with respect to the discharge passage 24, flow of the watertoward bag I0 is readily maintained.

The conduit 36 is built up on the included side of the acute opening 38angle to form a flange 40 thereat. The flange may be radial andcircumscribe the tip 12, but a nonradial configuration can be utilizedand is illustrated in the drawings. The flange 40 serves as a safetydevice by limiting vaginal penetration of the tip 12.

Referring to FIG. 3, an enlarged view of the flanged conduit 36 isshown. A plastic cap 42 is provided covering the opening 38 in theconduit 36. The cap 42 may be removed to expose the opening 36 bypushing up on a rim 44 thereof.

Referring back to FIGS. I and 2, the tip 12 is curved and the conduit 36is disposed normal to the plane of the tip curvature. This arrangementallows ready manipulation of the bag during insertion and use while in asitting position.

The unitary structure of bag 10 and tip 12 is packaged in a collapsedfolded form with the cap 42 sealing the opening 38 of the conduit 36 soas to ensure sterility. In use, the cap 42 is removed and the bag isheld under a faucet to allow water to enter the conduit opening 38 andflow into the bag 10. The cap 42 can then be replaced on the opening 38,or one can place a finger over the opening 38 during insertion and use.With some prior devices, the discharge tip was provided with a largeopening at the discharge end thereof, the bag being loaded through thetip. While easy to load, such devices do not have the safety andeffectiveness of a discharge-directing tip 12 as illustrated. Stillother prior devices have utilized tips similar to that illustrated butthe bag is loaded at an end opposite the neck portion 16. A separateopening in the bag is provided and must be sealed subsequent to loadingby heat sealing means, clamping means, etc. In contrast, the presentinvention provides a simple means of loading and sealing the bag 10.

Medication can be preincorporated in the bag 10 or can be added prior tofilling with water or thereafter. Preferably, a water-soluble douchesubstance is predisposed inside the bag 10. Referring to FIG. 1, onearrangement is to place a small water-soluble tablet 46 in the bag 10prior to packaging. Alternatively, the substance can be internallycoated on the material of the bag 10. Liquid douche substances can alsobe utilized in which case such substance can be enfolded within the bagwhen packaged.

Means can also be provided associated with the bag 10 to indicate adecrease in sterility thereof. For example, one can utilize a patch 48of absorbent paper which contains material that indicates the presenceof bacteria, e.g., by a color change. Alternatively, the douche can bepackaged under relatively dry conditions and a moisture-indicating patchcan be utilized. For example, blotting paper containing cobalt chlorideturns from blue to red when the relative humidity is greater than thatcalibrated for the particular paper. A wide variety of papers areavailable and the douche can be packaged under, say, 10 percent humiditywith a paper calibrated at that humidity associated with the bag 10. Ifin subsequent handling the douche is exposed to air (typically, 40percent relative humidity), the increased moisture therein would turnthe patch from blue to red thereby indicating rupture of the container.

We claim:

1. A vaginal douche comprising:

a water-impervious flexible bag having no substantial tendency todistend when empty;

a tubular, liquid discharge tip having a liquid discharge portion at oneend thereof, the opposite end thereof engaging said bag to form awatertight connection therewith; and

conduit means extending laterally from said tip and defining an openinginto said tip of sufficient size whereby water may be poured throughsaid opening and conducted into said bag said'conduit means openingforming an acute angle with said tip, the vertex of said angle pointingtoward said bag.

2. The douche of claim 1, wherein said bag and tip constitute a unitarystructure.

3. The douche of claim 1, wherein said bag has an extended neck inengagement with said tip, the material of at least a portion of saidneck being flexible but substantially thicker than the remainder of saidbag to thereby facilitate handling.

4. The douche of claim 1, wherein said conduit means forms a flange onsaid tip to limit vaginal penetration of said tip.

5. The douche of claim 1, wherein said tip is curved along a planeoffset from the plane along which said conduit means extends. I

6. The douche of claim 1, wherein said conduit means is disposed normalto plane of said tip curvature.

7. The douche of claim 1 including mean for capping said conduit means.

8. The douche of claim 1, wherein said liquid discharge portioncomprises a plurality of wall perforations at said one end.

9. The douche of claim 8 wherein said perforations are of differentsizes, perforations nearer the extremity of said one end being largerthan perforations further back.

10. The douche of claim 1 including a single dosage of water-solubledouche substance within said bag.

11. The douche of claim I including means associated therewithindicating a decrease in its sterility.

12. The douche of claim 1 wherein the exterior surface of said bag has apebbled texture.

13. The invention according to claim 1 in which said tip is formed withconvolutions on the region thereof which is in engagement with said bagneck whereby to effect said watertight connection.

14. A vaginal douche comprising:

a tubular, liquid discharge tip having a liquid discharge portion at oneend thereof;

a water impervious flexible bag having no substantial tendency todistend when empty, and having a neck in engagement with the end of saidtip opposite said discharge end as the sole communication with theinterior of said bag and forming a watertight connection with said tip;and

conduit means extending laterally from said tip and defining an o eninginto said tip of sufficient size whereby water may e poured through saidopening and conducted into said bag, said conduit means opening formingan acute angle with said tip, the vertex of said angle pointing towardsaid bag.

15. A vaginal douche comprising:

a water impervious flexible bag having no substantial tendency todistend when empty;

a tubular, liquid discharge tip having a liquid discharge portion at oneend thereof, the opposite end thereof engaging said bag to form awatertight connection therewith; and

a flange formed on said tip to limit vaginal penetration of said tip anddefining a conduit into said tip of sufficient size whereby water may bepoured therethrough and conducted into said bag, said conduit beingdefined at an acute angle with said tip, the vertex of said anglepointing toward said bag.

1. A vaginal douche comprising: a water-impervious flexible bag havingno substantial tendency to distend when empty; a tubular, liquiddischarge tip having a liquid discharge portion at one end thereof, theopposite end thereof engaging said bag to form a watertight connectiontherewith; and conduit means extending laterally from said tip anddefining an opening into said tip of sufficient size whereby water maybe poured through said opening and conducted into said bag said conduitmeans opening forming an acute angle with said tip, the vertex of saidangle pointing toward said bag.
 2. The douche of claim 1, wherein saidbag and tip constitute a unitary structure.
 3. The douche of claim 1,wherein said bag has an extended neck in engagement with said tip, thematerial of at least a portion of said neck being flexible butsubstantially thicker than the remainder of said bag to therebyfacilitate handling.
 4. The douche of claim 1, wherein said conduitmeans forms a flange on said tip to limit vaginal penetration of saidtip.
 5. The douche of claim 1, wherein said tip is curved along a planeoffset from the plane along which said conduit means extends.
 6. Thedouche of claim 1, wherein said conduit means is disposed normal toplane of said tip curvature.
 7. The douche of claim 1 including mean forcapping said conduit means.
 8. The douche of claim 1, wherein saidliquid discharge portion comprises a plurality of wall perforations atsaid one end.
 9. The douche of claim 8 wherein said perforations are ofdifferent sizes, perforations nearer the extremity of said onE end beinglarger than perforations further back.
 10. The douche of claim 1including a single dosage of water-soluble douche substance within saidbag.
 11. The douche of claim 1 including means associated therewithindicating a decrease in its sterility.
 12. The douche of claim 1wherein the exterior surface of said bag has a pebbled texture.
 13. Theinvention according to claim 1 in which said tip is formed withconvolutions on the region thereof which is in engagement with said bagneck whereby to effect said watertight connection.
 14. A vaginal douchecomprising: a tubular, liquid discharge tip having a liquid dischargeportion at one end thereof; a water impervious flexible bag having nosubstantial tendency to distend when empty, and having a neck inengagement with the end of said tip opposite said discharge end as thesole communication with the interior of said bag and forming awatertight connection with said tip; and conduit means extendinglaterally from said tip and defining an opening into said tip ofsufficient size whereby water may be poured through said opening andconducted into said bag, said conduit means opening forming an acuteangle with said tip, the vertex of said angle pointing toward said bag.15. A vaginal douche comprising: a water impervious flexible bag havingno substantial tendency to distend when empty; a tubular, liquiddischarge tip having a liquid discharge portion at one end thereof, theopposite end thereof engaging said bag to form a watertight connectiontherewith; and a flange formed on said tip to limit vaginal penetrationof said tip and defining a conduit into said tip of sufficient sizewhereby water may be poured therethrough and conducted into said bag,said conduit being defined at an acute angle with said tip, the vertexof said angle pointing toward said bag.